It pressed its muzzle gently against the coffin lid, snorted softly, and seemed to sob. For a few minutes, there was complete silence — even the wind stopped. Then, as if it understood that its beloved owner would never return, the horse let out a long, deep sound, like a mournful sigh, and struck the ground with its hoof.

Many of those present couldn’t hold back their tears. When the car engine started, the horse did not move away — on the contrary, it stood right in front of the hearse, blocking its path. They had to wait until it stepped aside on its own.

But even then, it followed the car — step by step, trotting, trying to catch up, until it finally collapsed from exhaustion at the side of the road. Later, people said the horse remained for a long time in the very spot where it had last been seen. It stood there motionless, without eating or moving, staring into the distance — as if still waiting for its beloved owner to call its name.